Furnace.



H. A. POPPENHUSEN & J. HARRINGTON.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION IILED mums, 1911.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

jwenivm' H. A. POPPENHUSEN &: J. HARRINGTON.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.'23, 1911. 073 437, Patented Sept. 16,1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

QIIIIH|HI I 1 imililfiz iii ll-WEI" q 62 I LJOJG/wiQw ZQZ OIZ @Wm A H. A. POPPENHUSEN & J. HARRINGTON.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1911.

1,073,437; Patented Sept. 16,1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Hi A. POPPBNHUSEN & J. HARRINGTON.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1911.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

4 $HEBTSSHEET 4.

Moe-m,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN A. POPPIENHUSEN, 0F EVANSTON, AND JOSEPH HARRINGTON, OF RIVERSIDE,

. ILLINOIS.

FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

Application filed January 23, 1911. Serial No. 604,042.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HERMAN A For- PENHUSEN and JOSEPH HARRINGTON, cltizens of the United States, and residents of Evanston and Riverside, respectively, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces; and we do hereby declare. that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the. accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in furnaces of that kind provided with automatic stoking devices, or means by which fuel fed to the furnace is continuously advanced or moved in a hori'zontally'disposed layer along or through the combustion chamber of the furnace during the progress of combustion. I

The present invention relates more par- 7 ticularly to stoking devicesof that kind having an inclined fuel support on which the fresh fuel rests while undergoing a pre liminary coking operation; in this respect resembling the device'shown in our-prior reissued Patent No. 18,168,,dated November 15th, 1910.;

The invention consists in the matters'hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims. I

In the drawings illustratingour invention: Figure l is a View in central vertical section of a' furnace embodying one form of our invention. Fig. 2fis a detail elevation of the transverse fuel supporting plates at the forward end of the furnace, as seen in section taken on line 2-2of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is .a detail plan, view of the parts shown in Fig. 2, as seen in section taken 011 line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. lis a detail sectionthrough the upper inclined fuel supporting plates.

shown in Fig. 1,taken on line H of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a like detail section of the lower inclined fuel supporting plates, taken on line 5'5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section of the fuel supporting plates, with the supporting plates by which they are sustained at the sides of the furnace removed to show the adjusting devices. Fig. 7 isa detail side view of the adjusting devices, exterior to the supporting plate at one side of the furnace. Fig. 8 is a view in vertical section of a fuel support consisting of one plate only. Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of a form of the invention in which devices are provided for giving vibratory section taken upon line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a detail section taken upon line 1212 of Fig. 10.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, A indicates the front wall of the furnace, B the bridge wall thereof, and C a fuel hop per located on the front wall in connection with the fuel inlet or feed opening a in said front wall.

D indicates an endless traveling or chain grate of that class which is moved or driven in such manner that its upper part or lap travels inwardly or from the feed opening toward the bridge wall of the furnace; said upper lap being substantially horizontal.

E indicates a deflecting arch or partition which extends from the upper part of the bridge wall B forwardly over the grate to a point near the front wall A of the furnace. A space is left between the forward edge of said partition and said front wall, which space constitutes the outlet opening for the upward or outward passage from the combustion chamber, or space beneath the said partition, of the products of combustion. The said arch orpartition E is shown as in clined upwardly and forwardly from its rear end, at which it is joined to the bridge wall, but it need not necessarily be so inclined.

At the forward end of, and above, the chain grate D, in position to receive at its upper end the fuel delivered from the feed hopper C, is an inclined fuel support arranged atan angle corresponding substantially with the angle which will be assumed by the upper surface of a layer of coal resting thereon under the action of gravity. Said inclined fuel support is designed to sustain the layer of coal resting and moving downward thereon during the coking operation which takes place when the coal passing over said support is subject to the heat from the highly heated products of combustion from the burning fuel on the chain grate, or radiated thereupon from the partition E or other heated surfaces of the furnace.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7,

said inclined supportis formed by means of two transversely extending, inclined and overlapped metal plates F and F Said plates are arranged with the upper edge of the uppermost plate F adjacent to the lower edge of thebottom wall C of the feed hopper C, and with the inner edge of said upper plate F overlapping the upper margin of the lower plate F The lower margins of said plates F and F are shown as deflected downwardly, so as to form transversely extending ledges or shoulders, one located within and the other at the bottom of, the supporting surface formed by the said plates. Said ledges or shoulders constitute means to aid in preventing the layer of fuel resting 011 the plates and moving downwardly over the same becoming caked into a solid mass by the action of the heat to which it is subjected, as set forth in our said reissued Patent No. 13,168. The said plates F and F aremovably supported in such manner that their lower edges may be adjusted for the purpose of changing the angle or inclination of the plates, and thereby varying the rate of feed or movement of the layer of coal thereon, according to the rate of coal consumption and the character of the coalused. The said plates are attached to and supported upon horizontal rock-shafts G G which are provided with means affording rotative adjustment of said rock-shafts, as required for the angular adjustment of the individual plates. As shown in the drawings, the ends of said rock-shafts extend through bearing apertures in the vertical side plates H H, which form the supports for the hopper C and other parts at the front of the furnace. Devices are provided for effecting the rotative adjustment of said rock-shaftsas follows: The said rock-shafts G G are provided on their ends which extend through the side plate H and exterior to said plate, with rigidly attached, radial arms g and 9 The ends of said arms are adapted to bear laterally against setscrews and which are inserted through lugs G and G on the outer face of said plate H. As illustrated, the rock-shafts G and G are square in cross-section, and the arms 9 and g have integral heads provided with square sockets to receive the ends of the rock-shafts, the arms being held on the shaft by set-screws g 9 These parts are so arranged that the weight of the lower parts of the plates F E, attached to the rockshafts, tends to press the arms 9 against the said set-screws. By adjusting said setscrews in. the lugs G G the rock-shafts may be given rotative adjustment, so as to raise and lower the lower edges of the said plates, and thereby adjust or change the inclination of said plates.

As shown in the drawings, each of the plates F and F consists of a plurality of 7 parts or sections, joined end to end and sepa arately attached to its associated rock-shaft.

The means for securing the several platesections to the rock-shafts, shown in the drawings, consists of integral arms f and f projecting from the rear or lower facesof the plate sections, and provided with laterally open, rectangular sockets to receive therock-shafts. The said plate-sections are secured to the rock-shafts, inthe case of the upper plate F by, means of set-screws in:

wallsof the said sockets and bearing against the rear'fa'ce of the rock-shaft G From the construction described in the.

supporting means for the plates F and F it will be seen that the lower margins of said plates may be raised or lowered, in a man ner to increase or decrease the inclination of the sald plates, according to thefldesired rate of downward movement of the layer of coal resting thereon. It will be understood that the rate of downward movement of the layer of coal overthe' inclinedsupporting 7 surface, formed by said plates. will depend on the particular character ofithecoal used,

and will be naturally more rapid with some kinds of coal than with others;- 'lvloreover, with the same kind of coal, 'therate of. downward movement or feedwill be more rapid when the plates have greater inchnation and less rapid when the plates are given a less inclination. In the operation of the, fuel supporting meansconsisting of-the supporting plates 7, i

F and F and the-horizontal traveling grate D, fuel will be fed from the feed hopper C in a layer of. uniform thickness and the layer of fuel-thus discharged upon the 1nclined supporting surface formed "by said plates will rest thereon withits surface in clined substantially at the natural angle of repose of the particular kind of coal used, under the action of gravity; the mass or layeron sa d supporting surface being sustained thereon by the contact of the lower.

part of said layer with the traveling grate which, in its rearward movement carries rearwardly the coal from the lower part of said inclined layer, thereby permitting the latter to descend or slide downwardly along or over said inclined surface at a rate of speed depending on the character ofthecoal, and also, of course, upon the rate of travel of the chain grate. vThe gaseous products of combustion arising from the burning of the fuel upon the chain grate, rise into contact with the deflecting wall or partition E and by the latter are deflected forward to: ward the front of the furnace and against the surface of the layer of coal resting upon the said supporting plates and thereafter pass upwardly around the forward edge of said arch or partition. The said nclined supporting surface is substantially without air inlet openings, so that it is in effect non-.

aerating; the coking of the coal thereon being effected solely by the heat transmitted to the upper surface thereof from the heated products of combustion, and substantially no air being admitted to the layer of fuel until after the latter passes from said supporting surface to the chain grate. The highly heated products of combustion act on the layer of coal resting on said inclined supporting surface to effect a preliminary heating or coking operation by which the volatile constituents of coal are driven off, and the coal is prepared for burning of its less volatile constituents as soon as it reaches the chain grate, as fully set forth in our prior patent referred to.

By the employment in a furnace of the parts or features herein set forth, namely, an endless traveling or chain grate having a substantially horizontal fuel-supporting surface, an inclined fuel support between the feed hopper and the forward end of said chain grate provided with means for adjusting the angle or inclination of the same, advantages in operation are obtained and improved results arise which are not secured in furnaces heretofore constructed and which may be understood from the following: In the operation of the furnace constructed as hereinbefore set forth, the layer of coal resting upon the inclined supporting surface at the forward end of the furnace is subjectedto a distilling or coking operation by which the volatile constituents of the coal are driven off, and said volatile constituents, beingimmediately brought into contact'or mixed with the highly heated products of combustion arising from the combustion of the fuel on the grate, are entirely burned or consumed. The extent to which the coking operation takes place depends upon the rate of downward movement of the fuel over the inclined supporting surfaces formed by the plates F and F By adjusting the angle or inclination of said plates the rate of downward movement of the layer resting on the plates may be changed or varied to give more or less rapid movement in the case of'one particular kind of coal, or to give a desired rate of movement to the layer in the use of different kinds-of coal at different times. By changing the angle or in clination of the said plates, moreover, the rate of downward movement of the layer resting on the inclined support may be varied to accord with the rate of movement of the chain grate. In other words, the speed of the chain grate is, in practice, varied to correspond with the rapidity of combustion of different kinds of coal used, and to decrease or augment the quantity of coal consumed according to the heating efficiency the rate of movement of the layer of fuel passing downwardly over the inclined support, a layer of the desired thickness may be maintained on the chain grate, under varying conditions with respect to the rate of travel of the grate.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings is shown a modified form of an inclined, non-aerating support, on which the coal rests during the coking operation, adapted for the adjustment of its angle of inclination, as hereinbefore described. As shown in said Fig. 8, the inclined fuel support consists of a plate J extending from the plate C to the top of the chain grate D, and adjustably supported by means permitting its lower or rear edge to be raised or lowered for changing the inclination of the plate. As shown, the adjustable supporting means for said plate J are like those shown in connection with the plate F of Figs. 1 to 7, embracing a rockshaft K to which the plate is attached, provided with a rigid arm 70, adapted for contact with a set-screw or adjustable stop-member 76 mounted in a fixed lug K The single sup porting plate J will afford the same result that is obtained by the two plates F and F, so far as is concerned the adjustability of the inclination of the surface of the fuelsupport by which the fuel is directly sustained, but the constructionof Figs. 1 to 7, embracing a plurality of transversely extending fuel-supporting plates, is. preferred, because affording the desired degree of va riation in the inclination of the fuel-supporting surfaces, with a less change in the position of the lower edge of the fuel-support relatively to the top of the chain grate; it being manifest, as seen by the dotted lines in F ig. 8, that the lower edge of the plate J will be elevated a much greater distance above the top surface of the chain grate than is required, in the construction shown in Fig. 6, to bring the inclined surfaces thereof to the same degree of inclination;

While the construction shown in Fig. 8 may be used with advantage in smaller furnaces, the use of a plurality of plates will usually be preferred in larger furnaces for the reason stated. Moreover, the agitatign of the layer being coked, to prevent the caking thereof, will in the construction shown in Fig. 8, be accomplished mainly by the descent of the coal as it falls from the lower edge of the plate J to the chain grate, while, in the use of the W0 plates F and F of Figs. 1 to 7, such agitation will take place both in the passage of the fuel from the up per plate to the lower plate F and from said lower plate to the chain grate.

The adjustment of the angle or inclination of the fuel-supporting surface formed by the plates arranged as described, may be of fected'as well in a device in which the said plates are oscillated or vibrated to effect the agitation of the fuel-layer (as shown in our prior reissued patent referred to) as in a device in which the said plates are normally stationary or immovable. A construction in which the plates are made angularly adjustable and one of the plates is also given vibratory movement, is shown in Figs. 9 to 12 of the accompanying drawings. As shown in the figures, the plates F and P are employed, which are adjustably supported by devices like those shown in said Figs. 1 to 7, the corresponding parts shown in said Figs. 9 to 12 and in Figs. 1. to 7, bearing the same reference letters. In addition to the means providing adjustable support for the plates, the device shown in said Figs. 9 to 12, includes means for giving vibratory motion to the lowermost plate, as follows: M indicates a rigid arm attached to the rockshaft G and provided with a stud or wristpin m; the arms g, 9 as well as the arm M in this instance, being located outside of the main, upright frame plate H, at the right hand side of the furnace. N indicates a gear pinion, mounted on a bearing stud on the plated-I. Said gear pinion N is provided with an ecccntrically arnnged wrist pin a. Said wrist-pin is engaged by one end of a pitman O, which pitman is given endwise reciprocating motion through the rotation of said wrist pin a. Said pitman is longitudinally slotted, and the slot thereof is engaged by the wrist-pin monthe outer end of the arm 'M. Said wristpin wt preferably has mounted thereon a bearing block m having flat bearing faces, and adapted to slide in theslot of the pitman 0; said bearing block being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. Mounted in the saidpitman is an adjustable stop-member P which projects into the slot in the pitman, in position for contact therewith of the block or in the endwise movement of the ,pitman in a direction toward the arm M.- The slot in said pit-man is made so long that the said block m will not usually come in contact with the pitman at the outer end of the slot in the rearward or retractive stroke of said pitman.

Forholding the stop-member P in place and adjusting it in a direction endwise' of the pitman, a longitudinally arranged, rotative shaft Q is mounted in the pitman and has screw-threaded engagement with said stop-member. As shown, said shaft P is located. in a longitudinal recess in the pitman below the path of the block m the stopmember having a projecting part which extends into the said recess and has a screwthreaded aperture through which the shaft is inserted. The shaft P is held from end wise movement in the pitman by nuts 29 and 2 applied to the shaft and bearing on opposite transverse faces of the pitman at one end of the said recess. The gear pinion N being driven or rotated, the pitman O is given e'ndwise reciprocating. motion by the action of the wrist-pin n, and in each advance movement of the pitman, by the contact of the stop-member P with the block m the arm M is moved or oscillated in a direction to lift the lower edge of the plate P In the retract-ive or rearward movement of the pitman, the lower edge of the plate F descends until the arm 9 on the rock-shaft G, strikes, and its movement is arrested by, the adjustable stop-screw 9- 'The rearward movement of the pitman then continues without further action on the plate F2 and in its next forward stroke, the said plate F is lifted as before. By adjustment of the stop-member P, longitudinally of the pit man, the distance through which the plate F is moved or lifted at each advance stroke of the pitmanand the angularposition of the said plate when elevated may be changed or varied as desired. It follows that, by adj ustment of the stop 9 and of the stop member P, the inclination of the plate F? may be changed or adjusted both when the plate is in its retracted and advanced or lifted position, so that not only may the eX- tent of vibrationin the plate be changed, but also the average or mean inclination of the plate. V

The pinion N, or other rotative part carrying the crank-pin a, may be driven by any suitable mechanism. As illustrated, the

said pinion N is driven from a main driving shaft R by means of a train of gears consisting of gear-wheels R R and R3, of which the gear-wheel R meshes with said pinion N. The shaft R has a slow speed of rotation, the shaft S of the chain belt being driven therefrom by gears'S and S and the train of gears described gives to the pinion N a much higherspee'd of rotation than that of the said shaft R.

. It is to be understood that a principal feature of our invention consists in an inclined support for a layer of coal during a preliminary coking operation, the inclination of the supporting surface or surfaces of which may be changed or adjusted for the purpose of controlling the rate of advance or travel of the layer of fuel undergoing the preliminary coking operation, and that another feature of our invention consists in an inclined fuel support consisting of a plurality of transversely extending, supporting plates or members, which are separately adjustable with respect to their angle or inclination, so as to aifordthe desired varia tion in rate ofmovement or feed of the layer of fuel, without undue movement or shifting of the lower edge of the fuel support relatively to the top surface of the chain grate. Inasmuch as various forms of supporting and. adjusting devices may be employed in connection with such an inclined support, we do not desire to be limited to the specific details of construction herein illustrated, except so faras the same are herein specifically claimed as, subordinate parts of our invention. 7

We claim as our invention 1. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate, and an inclined fuel support at the forward end of the grate, said fuelsupport embracing an inclined plate, and supporting means for said plate affording swinging movement thereof on a hori- Zontal, transverse axis, actuating mechanism having operative connection with said plate adapted to impart a positive forward swinging movement thereto against the action of gravity through a determined distance, and to permit the plate to swing rearwardly, by the action of gravity, and a stationary adjustable member acting to variably limit the rearward swinging movement of said plate and to sustain the plate in the inclined position determined by the adjustment of said adjustable member until again moved forward by the operation of said actuating mechanism.

2. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate and an inclined fuel-supporting plate located at the forward end of the grate, means for pivotally supporting said plate affording a swinging movement thereof on a horizontal transverse axis, mechanism for impartinga swinging movement to said plate, including a rock-arm having operative connection with said plate, an endwise movable operating arm having sliding connection vwith said rock-arm, and a member mounted on said operating arm adapted to contact with said rock-arm in the forward movement of said operating arm, and fixed, adjustable means for limiting the rearward movement of said plate to adjust the inclination or angle thereof.

3. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate having a substantially horizontal fuel supporting surface and an inclined, imperforate fuel supporting plate located at the forward end of the grate, and adapted to sustain a layer of fuel withoutaeration thereof during a preliminary coking operation and for the downward movement of said layer thereover by the action of gravity to the forward end of the grate,

means for pivotally supporting said plate affording swinging movement ofvthe same on a horizontal, transverse axis, actuating mechanism having operative connection with said plate for imparting a forward swinging movement A thereto, including means affording lost motion in the rearward swinging movement thereof by the action f gravity thereon, an adjustable means included in said actuating mechanlsm forcontrolling the amount of forward movement 4. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate having a substantially horizontal fuel-supporting surface, and an inclined, imperforate fuel-supporting plate located at the forward end of the grate and adapted to sustain a layer of fuel without aeration thereof during a preliminary coking operatiodand for the downward movement of saidlayer thereoyer by the action of gravity, means for pivotally supporting said plate affording a swinging movement there of on a horizontal transverse axis, mechanism for imparting a swinging movement to said plate, including a rock-arm having operative connection with said plate, an endwisemovable operating arm or pitman having sliding connection with said rock-arm, and a member mounted on and having adjustable connection with said pitman adapted to contact with said rock-arm in the forward movement of said pitman, and fixed, adjustable means for limiting the rearward movement of said plate to adjust the incli- 'nation or angle thereof.

5. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate having a substantially horizontal fuel-supporting surface, an inclined fuel support at the forward end of the grate adapted to sustain a layer of fuel during a preliminary coking operation and for the downward movement of said layer thereover by the action of gravity to the forward end of the grate, said fuel-support embracing two imperforate, over-lapping fuel-supporting plates, rock-shafts, one for each plate, by which said plates are supported, each rock-shaft being provided with a rigid arm, fixed, adjustable stop members adapted for contact with said arms for limiting the rear ward swinging movement of both of said plates to adjust the inclination or angle thereof, actuating mechanism having operative connection with the lowermost of said plates for imparting a positive forward swinging movement thereto, including means affording lost motion in the rearward movement of said lowermost plate, and means for adjusting the mean inclination of said lowermost plate for any amplitude of the vibration thereof.

6. In; a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate, an inclined fuel support at the forward end of the grate, said fuel support embracing a fuel-supporting plate, a horizontal, transversely arranged rock-shaft upon which said plate is mounted, affording pivotal support for said plate and permitting both forward and rearward swinging movement thereof, actuating mechanism having operative connection with said plate adapted to impart a positive forward swinging movement thereto against the action of gravlty and permit the plate to swmg rearwardly by thea'ction of gravity, said rock-r operation of said actuating mechanism.

7 In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate having a substantially horizontal fuel-supporting surface, an inclined, non-aerating fuel support at the forward end of the grate adapted to sustain a layer of fuel during a preliminary coking operation and for the downward movement of said layer thereover by the action of gravity to the forward end of the grate, said fuel support embracing a pivotally supported, fuel-supporting plate, actuating mechanism for giving vibratory motion to said plate embracing adjusting means for varying the position of the plate at the forward limit of its swinging movement, and a fixed, adjustable stop acting to variably limit the rearward swinging movement of said plate.

8. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate having a substantially horizontal fuel-supporting surface, an inclined, non-aerating fuel support at the forward end of the grate adapted to sustain a layer of fuel during a preliminary coking operation and for the downward movement of said layer thereover by the action of gravity to the forward end of the grate, said fuel support embracing a pivotally supported plate, actuating mechanism for giving vibratory motion to the plate embracing an endwise reciprocating pitman having sliding connection with the plate and provided with a longitudinally adjustable stop-memher, and a fixed adjustable stop-member acting to limit the rearwardswinging movement of said plate. 7

9. In a furnace, the combination of a traveling grate having a substantially horizontal fuel-supporting surface, and an inclined fuel-supporting plate located at the forward. end of the grate, and adapted to sustain a" layer of fuel without aeration" thereof during a preliminary coking operation and 'for the downward movement of said layer thereover by the action of gravity, a horizontal, transversely arranged rockshaft by which said plate is supported, mechanism for imparting a swinging movement 'to said rock-shaft including a rockarm secured to said rock shaft, a rotative member arranged 1n substantially horizontal alinement with the horizontal axis of said rock-shaft, and providectwith an eccentrically mounted wrist-pin, an'endwis'e movable p1tman having operative connectlon at one end wit-h said wrist-pin, and being provided with a laterally opening, longitudinally extending slot, a block slidably mounted in said slot and having operative connection with said -rock-arm,a member mounted on and adjustably connected with said pitman, projecting into said slot and adapted for contact with said block in the forward movement of said pitman, and means for operating said rotative member, said rock-shaft being provided with a rigid arm, and a fixed, adjustable stop-member adapted for contact with said arm on the rearward swinging movement thereof.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of January A. D. 1911. j

HERMAN A. POPPENHUSEN. JOSEPH HARRINGTDN. Witnesses:

T. A. MARSH, FRANK S. SroHR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of'Patents. Washington, D. G. 

